You'll remember our previous post on one of our 15 holy priests who say Traditional Latin Masses for the Rorate Caeli Purgatorial Society, Rev. Father David Smith RAChD [Royal Army Chaplains' Department], who said what may be the first TLM in half a century while serving as a British military chaplain in Afghanistan.
The report below, written exclusively for Rorate Caeli, comes courtesy of the Army -- whom apparently understand the indescribable benefits of the TLM better than most prelates and priests of the Church:
Update from Afghanistan…
A new location and a new home!
"When Father Smith RAChD deployed to Afghanistan last September, one of the first things he wanted was his own little chapel for Mass. His Battalion inherited Camp Ouellette from the US Marines in September 2011 as the first UK occupants of this extremely basic Camp in newly created Combined Forces (CF) Burma. The initial signs were not good. So much construction and remedial work was needed just to make the Camp habitable that any prospect of a chapel seemed remote. However, God is good - and thanks to a very supportive Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major, work began on St Martin’s Chapel, just before Christmas 2011.
"It was a case of God helping those who help themselves. With a bit of spare timber from the Royal Engineers and a lot of hard work by the 2 Mercian soldiers, the newest chapel in Helmand Province arose. And it’s a real smasher! Tin roof and all.
“'I was flabbergasted with the result” said Father Smith, “I’d just about given up hope of getting anything at all when it all happened quite suddenly. We now have the best little chapel in any UK camp in Theatre. It’s not only waterproof but also a bit of emergency hard cover for when we get mortared'.
"The chapel was dedicated to God in honour of St Martin of Tours, a familiar military saint who lived in the 4th Century. Martin was a young Roman soldier and there is a famous story told of him that shows his love of God and his fellow man. One day, Martin was out on his horse. It was bitterly cold and he came across a beggar who was virtually naked due to poverty. Martin remembered the words of Jesus 'I was naked and you clothed me'. The saint was so moved by this sight that he cut his centurion’s cloak in two and gave one half to the beggar. It was an image that remained with Martin throughout his life and encouraged him to embrace the way of poverty and the religious life. Another military reference is that St Martin’s Day is 11th November – Armistice Day. So you can see why St Martin often appears in military chapels.
"Serving alongside UK forces at Camp Ouellette, Staff Sgt Lee USMC (soldier pictured below wearing sunglasses and holding his painting of the Centurion) is a dab-hand with a paint pot. So when Father Smith asked him to paint a mural of St Martin for the chapel, he readily agreed. And what a fantastic job he did too – as you can see from the picture of the famous episode from the life of our new Patron Saint.
"Father Smith celebrates the Extra-Ordinary Form daily in this little chapel, usually with a small handful of UK and US soldiers; some of them are not even baptized – but still they find something peaceful and beautiful in this ancient expression of the Catholic Faith. Hand in hand with twice weekly Bible Study and Catechism, in this most unlikely desert environment, the Extra-Ordinary Form provides fertile soil for the Holy Spirit to plant and water His seeds of Faith.
"St Martin and all God’s saints, pray for all serving in Afghanistan."
Rorate NB: Please pray that Fr. Smith makes is home safely and soon. Also please pray for the repose of the souls of six of his men whom lost their lives after an IED explosion.
